407 candidates file nominations for 42 local level posts

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 18: The nomination of the candidates for the 42 positions of the local levels of 32 districts for the December 1 by-election completed peacefully on Sunday, the Election Commission (EC) said on Sunday night.

In total 407 candidates filed their nominations for the by-election. Of them, 286 are party candidates and 121 independen candidates. 

Candidates registered their nominations through their respective election offices across the country, said Nita Pokharel Aryal, Joint-Secretary and Spokesperson for the EC in a statement issued on Sunday night. 

The registration, which began at 10:00 am continued until 5:00 pm at the respective EC offices, including the offices of the chief returning officers and the offices of the election officers in all 32 districts across the country.

According to the EC, candidacy nominations were registered for various posts across multiple districts, including two female candidates for the position of Kailali District Coordination Committee chief and one male candidate for the post of Okhaldhunga District Coordination Committee chief.

For eight vacant posts, including chairs and deputy-chairs of rural municipalities and a mayor and a deputy-mayor of two municipalities, a total of 84 candidates—35 women, 48 men, and one from the ‘other’ gender category—registered their nominations.

Similarly, a total of 323 nominations were filed for 34 vacant posts of ward chairs in rural municipalities and municipalities. This included 29 women, 293 men and one ‘other’ candidate.

According to the EC, Dhanusha District’s Dhanushadham Municipality Ward-1 saw the highest number of candidates, with 21 individuals contesting for the post of ward chair.

In contrast, only three candidates each filed nominations for the ward chair posts in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality Ward-2 of Rukum (East) District and Surma Rural Municipality Ward-4 of Bajhang District.

Likewise, a total of 20 candidates (19 men and one from the ‘other’ category) registered their nominations for the mayoral post in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, including nine from political parties and 11 independent candidates.

In Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward-16, 19 candidates registered their nominations for the post of ward chair. Among them, 17 were men and two were women. A total of 11 independent candidates registered nominations for the post. 

Similarly, 16 candidates registered their nominations for the post of chairperson of Gramthan Rural Municipality in Morang, and all of them are men. Only one independent candidate registered for the post.

In the same way, seven candidates registered their nominations for the vacant post of chairperson of Mahabu Rural Municipality of Dailekh, and all of them are men representing various political parties.

According to the EC, complaints against candidates, if any, could be submitted from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Monday, 18 November. The EC will review the candidate nominations and complaints until 5:00 pm, with the list of candidates published by 6:00 pm on Tuesday, November 19.

Candidates can withdraw their names on Wednesday,  November 20 and the final list of candidates will be published on the same day. Election symbols will also be distributed on the same day, between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

The Election Commission has urged all voters to participate actively in the electoral process, with voting scheduled for Sunday,  December 1, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the election code of conduct for the upcoming local-level by-elections has officially come into effect since Sunday. According to the EC, the code of conduct is applied to people holding public posts in the respective district, to authorities concerned, and to officials.